Clean out assembly for a concrete pump and pipeline

ABSTRACT

An assembly for use in cleaning out the pipeline used on ram cylinder type concrete pumps which is adapted to be positioned in the outlets of the pump, upstream of the pipeline valves and hopper valves which regulate the flow of concrete to and from the ram cylinders. The assembly contains a mounting base and a pair of one-way valves, carried by and oppositely aligned in the mounting base, allowing inlet fluid flow to the ram cylinders through one of the valves and outlet flow through the other valve. A hose communicates the inlet valve with a pressurized water supply and a second hose communicates the outlet valve with the concrete pipeline which is to be flushed out.

United States Patent Decker CLEAN OUT ASSEMBLY FOR A CONCRETE PUMP ANDPIPELINE [75] Inventor: Raymond E. Decker, Riverside,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Challenge-Cook Bros., Incorpoiated, Industry, Calif.

[22] Filed: Oct. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 300,756

[ Nov. 27, 1973 Primary ExaminerI-Ienry T. Klinksiek AssistantExaminerRobert J. Miller Att0rneyCharles G. Lyon et al. and Richard E.

Lyon, Jr.

[5 7 ABSTRACT An assembly for use in cleaning out the pipeline used onram cylinder type concrete pumps which is adapted to be positioned inthe outlets of the pump, upstream of the pipeline valves and hoppervalves which regulate the flow of concrete to and from the ramcylinders. The assembly contains a mounting base and a pair of one-wayvalves, carried by and oppositely aligned in the mounting base, allowinginlet fluid flow to the ram cylinders through one of the valves andoutlet flow through the other valve. A hose communicates the inlet valvewith a pressurized water supply and a second hose communicates theoutlet valve with the concrete pipeline which is to be flushed out.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Fi gures PATENTEUNUV 27 ms SHEET 1 [1F 2 CLEAN OUTASSEMBLY FOR A CONCRETE PUMP AND PIPELINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONModern building construction often requires concrete to be pumped tohigh levels or inaccessible locations where it is poured into forms. Thepumps commonly used to move the concrete are of the ram piston type, anexample of which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,641. Such pumps utilizerams whose ram cylinders are filled with concrete from a hopper duringthe backstroke, and during the forward stroke, push the concrete into apipeline which leads to the form. Typically, a pair of rams is utilized,one moving rearward and taking in concrete, while the other movesforward to pump the concrete into the pipeline. Each ram requires a pairof valves for its operation. One is the hopper valve which leads to thehopper. It is open during the rearward stroke of the ram pistonassociated therewith, during which time concrete is flowing from thehopper into the ram cylinder. The hopper valve then closes during theforward stroke of the ram piston to prevent concrete from being pushedback into the hop per. The other valve associated with the one ram isthe pipeline valve which is positioned in front of the ram. The pipelinevalve is open during the forward stroke of the ram piston to allowconcrete to enter the discharge conduit and is closed during thebackstroke to prevent concrete from returning through the pipeline tothe ram.

Upon completion of the concrete pouring operation utilizing the concretepump above described, it is necessary to clean out the pipeline throughwhich the concrete is pumped. It would appear that if water were pouredinto the hopper, it could be driven by the same ram piston operationthrough the pipeline, thereby cleaning the cement therefrom. However,the hopper valves and pipeline valves are designed to operate inconjunction with highly abrasive concrete and not water. As a result,they do not generally contain watertight seals and therefore are notsuitable for such a water flushing operation. The pipeline cleaningvalve thus involves the inefficient use of existing equipment which issupplemented by the laborious process of manhandling the line for usewith an additional pumping system, an economically undesirable solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention consists of placing apair of one-way valves, oppositely aligned, in the outlet of a ramcylinder concrete pump, communicating one of the valves through aflexible hose with an external pressurized water supply, such as anoutdoor faucet, and the other through a similiar hose with the concretepipeline. The ram pistons of the pump then operate to drive the waterfed thereto through the upstream valve, out the downstream valve at highpressures into the pipeline, washing the concrete therefrom.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the invention to provide anassembly for use with a ram piston concrete pump to effectively cleanout a concrete pipeline.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation of a ram cylinder concrete pumpmounted on a truck and connected to a concrete pipeline wherein pivotsare provided in the outlet of the pump, dotted lines showing the hopperand valve assembly in the upraised position for mounting of the cleanout assemblies.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a concrete pump showing the hopper valves andoutlet pivots.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, showinga clean out assembly mounted in one of the outlets and the hopper andvalve assembly resting thereon.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 3 showingthe one-way valves mounted in the clean out assembly.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG. 3 showing afrontal view of the one-way valve.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 3 showing thebackside of a clean out assembly with hoses communicating with theone-way valves.

FIG. 7 is an elevation of a ram cylinder concrete pump mounted on atrailer with dotted lines showing the hopper and valve assemblies in thepivoted position for mounting of the clean out assemblies.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates ahydraulically driven ram piston type concrete pump 10 mounted on a truck12. The pump moves concrete received in a hopper 14 through a dischargeconduit 16, outlet 18 and into a pipeline 20. The pump generallycomprises an internal combustion engine 22, a pair of hydraulicactuating cylinders 24 [only one being shown in FIG. 1], communicatingwith ram cylinders 26, as shown in FIG. 2. Concrete dumped into thehopper 14 passes down through feed lines 28 and 30 and into the ramcylinders 24. The ram pistons [not shown] then push the concrete towardoutlet 18. The two ram pistons operate alternately to provide arelatively continuous flow of concrete.

The concrete pump has four valves including two hopper valves 32 and 34and two pipeline valves 36 and 38. As the ram piston moves to itsrearward position in one of the ram cylinders 26, the hopper valve 32opens to allow concrete to fall into the area in front of the ramdefined by discharge conduit 16. During this time, the pipeline valves36 are closed to prevent a backflow of concrete into the hopper. Theconcrete may be pumped to large heights such as several stories, andunless the pipeline valve 36 were closed, concrete would rush backthrough the feed line 28. The concrete in the discharge conduit 16 movesinto the ram cylinder 26, and when the cylinder is filled and the rampiston begins its forward stroke, the pipeline valve 36 is opened andthe hopper valve 32 is closed. The other operating ram and valves 34 and38 operate in a similar manner but at 180 out of phase, so that when oneram cylinder is going forward the other is moving rearward. Thisprovides a continuous flow of concrete from outlet 18.

If, upon completion of the concrete pumping operation, water were fedinto the ram cylinders through the hopper l4 and feed lines 28 and 30,it would appear that the water, as the concrete, could be driven throughdischarge conduits 16, outlet 18 and the pipeline 20, thereby washingout the pipeline. However, the hopper valves and pipeline valves are notwater tight and therefore must be circumvented to effectively carry outsuch a flushing operation. To bypass the hopper and pipeline valves,pivot assemblies 40 and 42 are provided between the discharge conduits16 and ram cylinders 26, whereby the hopper 14, hopper valves 32 and 34and pipeline valves 36 and 38, all of which are carried by the dischargeconduits 16, can be pivoted upwardly as shown in the dotted line ofFIG. 1. Pivot assembly 40, shown in FIG. 3, is comprised of a firstannular flange 44 positioned at the downstream end of ram cylinder 26and a second annular flange 46 on the upstream end of discharge conduit16. The second annular flange 46 is adapted for abutting relationshipwith the first flange member 44, and the two flange members are joinedat their upper ends by a pivot 48. A locking bar 50 is provided, as seenin FIG. 1, to maintain the assembly in the closed position during theconcrete pumping operation. It should be noted that the pivots joiningthe ram cylinders with the discharge conduits are angled inwardly of thecentral axis of the ram cylinders and discharge conduits, see FIG. 2.This is a result of the two discharge conduits 16 being angled withrespect to and communicating through the pipeline valve 36 and 38 with asingle outlet 18, necessitating a single axis about which both pivotsare free to rotate, thereby preventing any binding between the adjacentflanges in the pivot assemblies.

To commence the cleaning operation, the pipeline is disconnected fromoutlet 18 by means of coupling 52, shown in FIG. 1. A hydraulic liftingmeans 54 is activated to lift the hopper and valves to the upraisedposition exposing annular flanges 44 on the downstream ends of the ramcylinders 26. A cleanout assembly 56 is then placed against each of theannular flanges 44, as shown for one assembly in FIGS. 3 and 4. Forpurposes of discussion, further reference will be made only to one ofthe cleanout assemblies, but it should be understood that anotherassembly may be similarly disposed at the downstream end of the otherram cylinder. In addition to exposing a direct connection for thecleanout assemblies 56 (to be discussed), tilting the hopper and valveassembly, as described, opens a flow path from the hopper 14 and thedischarge assembly 32, 36, 16 and 18 by which gravity will cause all theconcrete remaining therein to flow outwardly therefrom upon runningwater therethrough, no additional labor being necessary. Normally thisphase of the cleaning operation is accomplished by manually raking theremaining concrete from the discharge conduits l6 and the horizontalportion of the pipeline valve and by manually employing outlet 18.Furthermore, the tilted position exposes the face of the concrete pistonfor cleaning prior to attaching the cleanout assembly. Normally, thepiston face is difficult to see and reach for proper cleaning.

The cleanout assembly 56 is best shown in FIG. 4 and is seen to comprisea mounting base 58, a pair of oneway valves 60 and 62, lockingassemblies 64 and 66 and rear outlet chambers 68 and 70. The mountingbase 58 has an annular flange portion 72, which is adapted to abutflange 44 of ram cylinder 26, and a central support section 74 whichcarries the two valves 60 and 62 which replace the hopper valves 28 and30 and pipeline valves 36 and 38 for the water cleanout operation.Valves 60 and 62 are one-way valves, each having a valve chamber 76which extends through the support portion 74 of mounting base 58 andcommunicates a rear outlet chamber 68 or 70 with the ram cylinder 26.Each valve also contains a valve seat 78, valve ball 80, and restrainingpin 82. When the fluid flow through the valve chamber is in thedirection of the valve, the ball 80 is forced back against therestraining pin 82 and flows continuously through the valve. If thedirection of flow were reversed, the ball would be forced against thevalve seat 78, thereby closing the valve and preventing flowtherethrough. In the cleanout assembly 56, the two valves 60 and 62 areoppositely aligned as shown in FIG. 4. Valve 60 is positioned to allowupstream fluid flow into the ram cylinder 26, while valve 62 al lowsdownstream flow therethrough from the ram cylinder. Rearwardly disposedof valves 60 and 62 are the rear chambers 68 and 70. As noted above,these rear chambers communicate with valve chambers 76. In addition,they are carried by the mounting base 58 and extend rearwardlytherefrom, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Each of the rear chambers 68 andis adapted for threaded engagement with a hose. Chamber 68 communicateswith valve 60 and inlet hose 84, while rear chamber 70 communicates withvalve 62 and outlet hose 86. The inlet and outlet hoses are, of course,provided with appropriate fittings 88 for threaded communication withthe rear chambers.

In operation, the cleanout assemblies 56 are positioned at thedownstream end of the ram cylinders and the locking assemblies 64 and 66are tightened to secure a water-tight seal between the annular flanges44 on the end of the ram cylinders 26 and the flange portions 72 of themounting bases of the cleanout assemblies. The inlet hoses 84 areconnected to a pressurized water supply such as a common outdoor faucet[not shown] and the outlet hoses 86 are placed in the disconnected end91 of pipeline 20. When the inlet hoses 84 are in communication with thepressurized water supply and the concrete pump 10 activated, water isdrawn into the ram cylinders 26 through valves 60 and driven at highpressure out the outlet hoses through valves 62 by the ram pistons.Because the pump has two rams which are continually moving in oppositedirections, water is continuously being drawn into a ram cylinderthrough one of the inlet valves 60, while it is being pumped by theother ram through the outlet 62 associated therewith. In this way, theone-way valves 60 and 62 of the two cleanout assemblies 56 functionsimilarly to the hopper and pipeline valves used during the pumping ofconcrete, thereby providing a continuous flow of water at a highpressure into the pipeline 20. In contrast to the pumping of concretethrough the discharge conduit 16 and outlet 18 into the pipeline, thewater moves through outlet hoses 86 whereupon it enters the pipeline ata high pressure and washes the concrete therefrom before it can set upwithin the hose.

Finally, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a support stop is secured to thelower backside of mounting base 56 by bolt means 92. When the pump 10 isbeing used in conjunction with the cleaning assemblies 56 in a flushingoperation, the hopper 14 which was raised by hydraulic means 54 islowered slightly until the annular flange 46 on the upstream end of thedischarge conduit abuts stop 90. This removes the continuous strain ofthe weight of the hopper and associated valves and conduits from thehydraulic lifting means and utilizes that weight to press against thecleaning assemblies, thereby aiding the locking assemblies inmaintaining a watertight seal between the cleaning assemblies and ramcylinders. It should be also noted that while the concrete pump 10 hasbeen described as being mounted on a truck 12, it can also be mounted ona trailer 94 as shown in FIG. 7. Mounting the concrete pump in thisfashion has no effect upon either the construction or operation of thecleanout assembly 56, and so the above description is equally applicableto a trailer mounting.

Various changes and modifications may be made in carrying out thepresent invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.Insofar as these changes and modifications are within the purvue of theappended claims, they are to be considered as part of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly for use in ram piston type concrete pumps with aninlet hose and an outlet hose for cleaning out a pipeline comprising amounting base, at least two one-way valves, said valves being carried bysaid mounting base and oppositely aligned thereon for fluidcommunication to and from said pump upon said valve assembly beingsecured thereto, means for communicating one of said valves with saidinlet hose and the other of said valves with said outlet hose and meansfor securing said valve assembly to said pump.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said communicating means comprisesat least two rear chambers, each of said chambers communicating with oneof said valves and having an aperture therein adapted to receive the endof one of said hoses.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein one of said valves is an inletvalve allowing fluid flow therethrough to said pump and the other anoutlet valve allowing flow therethrough from said pump, each of saidvalves having a valve chamber, an internal valve seat withinv saidchamber, a valve ball adapted to be received in said valve seat and avalve retaining means, whereby fluid flow in one direction urges saidball against said retaining means thereby allowing flow about said balland through said valve chamber while fluid flow in the oppositedirection urges said ball against said valve seat thereby closing saidvalve and preventing fluid flow therethrough.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said securing means are carried bysaid mounting base.

5. A valve assembly for use in ram piston type concrete pumps with aninlet hose and an outlet hose for cleaning out a pipeline comprising amounting base, an

inlet valve, an outlet valve, each of said valves having a valvechamber, an internal valve seat within said chamber, a valve balladapted to be received in said valve seat and a valve retaining means,whereby fluid flow in one direction urges said ball against saidretaining means thereby allowing flow about said ball and through saidvalve chamber while fluid flow in the opposite direction urges said ballagainst said valve seat thereby closing said valve and preventing fluidflow therethrough, said inlet and outlet valves being carried by andoppositely aligned on said mounting base for fluid communication to saidpump through said inlet valve and from said pump through said outletvalve, a rear inlet chamber, said chamber communicating with said inletvalve and having an aperture therein adapted to receive said inlet hose,a rear outlet chamber, said outlet chamber communicating with saidoutlet valve and having an aperture therein adapted to receive saidoutlet hose and means for securing said valve assembly to said pump.

6. The combination of claim 5 including a support stop carried by saidmounting base, said stop being adapted to abut a portion of said pumpupon said valve assembly being secured to said pump so that the weightof said portion of said pump urges said valve assembly against saidpump.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said securing means is carried bysaid mounting base.

8. A valve assembly for use with an inlet hose and an outlet hose forcleaning out a pipeline in a ram piston type concrete pump wherein thehopper, outlet conduit which communicates with the ram cylinder andconcrete valves carried thereby are pivoted outwardly of the pump,comprising a mounting base having a central support portion and anannular flange portion, said flange portion being adapted to abut theexposed end of said ram cylinder and form a water-tight seal therewith,an inlet valve, an outlet valve, each of said valves being carried bysaid support portion of said base member and oppositely aligned thereonfor fluid communication to said ram cylinder through said inlet valveand from said ram cylinder through said outlet valve, each of saidvalves having a valve chamber, an integral valve seat within saidchamber, a valve ball adapted to be received in said valve seat and avalve retaining means, whereby fluid flow in one direction urges saidball against said retaining means thereby allowing flow about said balland through said valve chamber while fluid flow in the oppositedirection urges said ball against said valve seat thereby closing saidvalve and preventing fluid flow therethrough, a rear inlet chamber, saidchamber communicating with said inlet valve and having an aperturetherein adapted to receive said inlet hose, a rear outlet chamber, saidoutlet chamber communicating with said outlet valve and having anaperture therein adapted to receive said outlet hose and means forsecuring said valve assembly to said pump.

9. The combination of claim 8 including a support stop carried by saidmounting base, said stop being adapted to abut a portion of said pumpupon said valve assembly being secured to said pump so that the weightof said portion of said pump urges said valve assembly against saidpump.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said securing means is carried bysaid mounting base.

1. A valve assembly for use in ram piston type concrete pumps with aninlet hose and an outlet hose for cleaning out a pipeline comprising amounting base, at least two one-way valves, said valves being carried bysaid mounting base and oppositely aligned thereon for fluidcommunication to and from said pump upon said valve assembly beingsecured thereto, means for communicating one of said valves with saidinlet hose and the other of said valves with said outlet hose and meansfor securing said valve assembly to said pump.
 2. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said communicating means comprises at least two rearchambers, each of said chambers communicating with one of said valvesand having an aperture therein adapted to receive the end of one of saidhoses.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein one of said valves is aninlet valve allowing fluid flow therethrough to said pump and the otheran outlet valve allowing flow therethrough from said pump, each of saidvalves having a valve chamber, an internal valve seat within saidchamber, a valve ball adapted to be received in said valve seat and avalve retaining means, whereby fluid flow in one direction urges saidball against said retaining means thereby allowing flow about said balland through said valve chamber while fluid flow in the oppositedirection urges said ball against said valve seat thereby closing saidvalve and preventing fluid flow therethrough.
 4. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said securing means are carried by said mounting base.5. A valve assembly for use in ram piston type concrete pumps with aninlet hose and an outlet hose for cleaning out a pipeline comprising amounting base, an inlet valve, an outlet valve, each of said valveshaving a valve chamber, an internal valve seat within said chamber, avalve ball adapted to be received in said valve seat and a valveretaining means, whereby fluid flow in one direction urges said ballagainst said retaining means thereby allowing flow about said ball andthrough said valve chamber while fluid flow in the opposite directionurges said ball against said valve seat thereby closing said valve andpreventing fluid flow therethrough, said inlet and outlet valves beingcarried by and oppositely aligned on said mounting base for fluidcommunication to said pump through said inlet valve and from said pumpthrough said outlet valve, a rear inlet chamber, said chambercommunicating with said inlet valve and having an aperture thereinadapted to receive said inlet hose, a rear outlet chamber, said outletchamber communicating with said outlet valve and having an aperturetherein adapted to receive said outlet hose and means for securing saidvalve assembly to said pump.
 6. The combination of claim 5 including asupport stop carried by said mounting base, said stop being adapted toabut a portion of said pump upon said valve assembly being secured tosaid pump so that the weight of said portion of said pump urges saidvalve assembly against said pump.
 7. The combination of claim 6 whereinsaid securing means is carried by said mounting base.
 8. A valveassembly for use with an inlet hose and an outlet hose for cleaning outa pipeline in a ram piston type concrete pump wherein the hopper, outletconduit which communicates with the ram cylinder and concrete valvescarried thereby are pivoted outwardly of the pump, comprising a mountingbase having a central support portion and an annular flange portion,said flange portion being adapted to abut the exposed end of said ramcylinder and form a water-tight seal therewith, an inlet valve, anoutlet valve, each of said valves being carried by said support portionof said base member and oppositely aligned thereon for fluidcommunication to said ram cylinder through said inlet valve and fromsaid ram cylinder through said outlet valve, each of said valves havinga valve chamber, an integral valve seat within said chamber, a valveball adapted to be received in said valve seat and a valve retainingmeans, whereby fluid flow in one direction urges said ball against saidretaining means thereby allowing flow about said ball and through saidvalve chamber while fluid flow in the opposite direction urges said ballagainst said valve seat thereby closing said valve and preventing fluidflow therethrough, a rear inlet chamber, said chamber communicating withsaid inlet valve and having an aperture therein adapted to receive saidinlet hose, a rear outlet chamber, said outlet chamber communicatingwith said outlet valve and having an aperture therein adapted to receivesaid outlet hose and means for securing saiD valve assembly to saidpump.
 9. The combination of claim 8 including a support stop carried bysaid mounting base, said stop being adapted to abut a portion of saidpump upon said valve assembly being secured to said pump so that theweight of said portion of said pump urges said valve assembly againstsaid pump.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said securing means iscarried by said mounting base.